Porziuncola Farm Teaches and Trains locals in Organic Farming Practices
In Jamaica, in the community of Braes River, there is a partially functional farm allowing villagers in that area to have food stability through organic farming practices. The farm is the Porziuncola Farm, and it’s part of the Caribbean Youth Summit Association (CYSA), a youth-led organization dedicated to helping rid Jamaica and the Caribbean of social ills by developing projects such as the farm. The farm received a large grant from the St. Elizabeth Mission Society in January of 2011. The farm has fenced-in goats and recently sowed pumpkin, spinach and okra. They are also experimenting with composting methods. One hundred donated fruit trees have been planted, and the Forestry Department promised 1,500 lumber trees. Locals are being trained on how to grow crops and make the farm more sustainable. Sister Grace Yap, the Franciscan sister at this mission, said the farm is continuing to improve with additional programs. “We work with different communities and have people sponsor local children for education, and we’re trying to get a program to promote the village near the farm to bring business into the area,” she said. “The grant has been a great help. We’ve been extremely fortunate.”
